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Singharaja Rain Forest Excursion, Sri Lanka

Sinharaja Rain Forest’s biodiversity makes it one of Sri Lanka’s seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Sinharaja Rain Forest is a great location for general wildlife enthusiasts and a must for bird watchers. Sinharaja, which translates as 'Lion King', covers an area of nearly 19,000 hectares close to the gem-mining town of Ratnapura, and consists of natural rain forest as well as introduced species, such as teak and mahogany. More than 60% of the trees in Sinharaja Rain Forest are endemic and many of them are considered rare. There is much endemic wildlife, especially birds, but the reserve is also home to over 50% of Sri Lanka's endemic species of mammals and butterflies, as well as many kinds of insects, reptiles and rare amphibians.

Sinharaja Rain Forest is one of the few virgin forests left in the world. Streams, springs, rivers, waterfalls, elephants, leopard, monkeys, butterflies and moths, rare trees, valuable shrubs and medicinal herbs are all found within its green canopy. A trek along prescribed paths would provide nature lovers with a never to be forgotten experience of sights and sounds. However, because of the dense vegetation, wildlife is not as easily seen as at dry-zone national parks such as Yala. There are elephants and leopards in the Sinharaja Rain Forest but rarely seen. The commonest larger mammal is the endemic Purple-faced Langur.

Note - Please note that if you wish to visit Sinharaja Rain Forest you may need a minimum 2 night stay near the forest to enjoy this option. Also, there aren't many hotels close to the forest and rates tend to be high. Therefore, Sinharaja Forest option is not practical for short tours.

Birds

This forest is considered to be one of the best birding sites in Sri Lanka with 22 out of Sri Lanka's 26 endemic birds having been sighted here, and large mixed flocks providing an unusual spectacle. Even the less experienced birder would hope to see 10-15 endemics during their stay, highlights include the red-faced malkoha, Sri Lanka frogmouth, spot-winged thrush and malabar trogon. It is not just birds that attract the visitors, over 60% of the country's endemic tree species are found here, along with an impressive list of butterfly, insect, amphibian and reptile species.

Other Animals

Due to the dense forest mammal life in Sinharaja Rain Forest can be more difficult to spot, of the 40 species listed as being in the forest there is a good chance of seeing giant squirrels, mongoose, purple-faced langur, wild boar and barking deer.
The largest mammal in the Sinharaja Rain Forest is the rarely spotted leopard, also infrequently glimpsed are the rusty spotted and wild fishing cats. Sambhur, barking deer and wild boar browse on the forest floor. The more common troops of purple-faced langur monkeys will chatter and move through the trees above you, but you're more likely to hear them than actually see them. There are also rats, shrews, giant squirrels, porcupines, civets, mongooses, venomous snakes, 20 species of birds and 45 species of reptiles.

More on the Singharaja Rain Forest of Sri Lanka ☟

Note

Please note that if you wish to visit Singharja Rain Forest you will need a minimum 2 night stay near the forest to enjoy this option. Also, there aren't many hotels close to the forest and rates tend to be high. Therefore, Singharaja Forest option is not practical for short tours.

Tours to the Sinharaja Region, Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is home to a range of ecologies that a few countries can boast about; this is why, with the aid of our experienced holiday specialists, an adventure themed holiday by us will be like none other you ever experienced before. Be it white water rafting , exploring the deep jungles of Sri Lanka’s heart land or exploring the caves of historical significance to the great saga of the Ramayana in the highlands, we can assure you that if it is adventure you desire we will plan a holiday that you will remember forever.

The last capital for the ancient kings of Sri Lanka, the region of Kandy or “Maha Nuwara” in Sinhala is the second largest city in the Island after Colombo. Kandy is the Capital of the Islands Central Province and home to many lush tea plantations and the revered Temple of the Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa) this temple is a holy site to Buddhists the world over and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1988.

Nuwara Eliya is at the heart of the southern hill country, Sri Lanka’s highest town and a favourite hill station during British colonial period. Nuwara Eliya is renowned for its perennial spring-like climate, carpets of lush green tea, 18 hole golf course, Little England, Victoria Park and more.

Sinharaja Rain Forest’s biodiversity makes it one of Sri Lanka’s seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Sinharaja Rain Forest is a great location for general wildlife enthusiasts and a must for bird watchers.

Horton Plains is one of the most popular and a unique natural attraction in Sri Lanka. It is located 2000m high plateau 28km south of Nuwara Eliya and its known for its beautiful landscapes, rare plants, animal life and World’s End where the plains comes suddenly to an end.

The 2,243 m (7,360-ft) high summit is situated in the middle of a wildlife sanctuary called Peak Wilderness. According to Buddhist history the footprint at the summit of the mountain is of Lord Buddha, left during his third visit to Sri Lanka.

Peradeniya Botanical Gardens is the foremost of its kind in Sri Lanka in both size and splendour. It was created by the Kandyan King for the enjoyment of the aristocracy. Today the gardens have an orchid house, spice garden, Japanese garden, picturesque lake filled with water lilies and more.

The spectacular 25m-high Rawana Ella waterfall cascades from an oval-shaped concave rock outcrop is known to be one of the widest waterfalls in Sri Lanka. Its main drop is 30 feet in height and the grandest aspect of the Rawana Ella waterfall is its wild look amidst the wilderness.

Wilpattu is one of the oldest National Parks in Sri Lanka, spanning from the northwest coast inland towards the ancient capital of Anuradhapura. The park consists of willus (Natural lakes), dry-lowland forests, scrublands, open grasslands and the coastal belt.

The Knuckles Mountain Range is located towards the North East of the City of Kandy and offers one of the most breathtaking climbs among the Sri Lankan hill country. The region is a paradise for all outdoor mountainous activities.

Belilena cave situated in the forests of Kitulgala is a very large cave, in which the 12,000 year old skeletal remains of the prehistoric man have been found. Trek through the forests in order to reach the cave.

Arguably there is no better way to experience Sri Lanka’s incredible hill country than to take to Sri Lanka’s iconic rail network that dates back to the period of British colonial rule that is still as charming as it was then.

The Colombo to Kandy train ride is a deservedly popular Sri Lanka train journey to take to get an up-close feel for Sri Lanka’s dramatic, scenic landscape, and, in just three hours, takes you from sweltering coastal lowlands to cool inland hills.

The Sri Lanka train tour from Kandy to Ella is one of the finest in Asia and maybe even one of the world’s great rail journeys. The scenic beauty you will experience on the Kandy to Ella train route via Nuwara Eliya is something you will never forget. Talk to Travel Sri Lanka about including this excursion in your holiday.

Of all the things to see in Sri Lanka Ella Gap offers one of the most spectacular panorama vistas in the south of the country through a narrow cleft in the hills down to the plains below. The whole route to Ella is amazing but most stunning of all is Ella Gap itself.